Looking at a possible free-agent signing for the Nuggets

Well, the Nuggets are seriously looking into Earl Clark, a source said, which of course leads to the question – just who is Earl Clark?

He played for both Phoenix and Orlando last season, his second in the league. The 23-year-old New Jersey native stands 6-10. Clark was drafted by Phoenix in the first round (14th overall) in 2009, but he has yet to breakout – his career scoring average is 3.3 points per game. He had a good stretch in February, in which he averaged 7.6 points and 5.6 rebounds.

After being named a McDonald’s All-American in 2006, he headed for Louisville, where he played three seasons and helped lead his team to a No. 1 ranking during his junior year.

This isn’t Nene Jr. This is a guy who can provide some size off the bench and develop with the Nuggets coaches, similar to, say, Kosta Koufos, who didn’t play much last season but will likely crack the rotation this season – thanks to his tutelage last spring.

And, if anything, it fills the Nuggets quota of players from New Jersey named Earl.

If they sign Earl Clark, won’t the Nuggets have 16 or 17 players under contract? Who goes?

ES

True. And why all the interest in only big men. The nuggets roster is chock full of power forwards and center types. It seems Denver should be looking for a third point guard to spell Ty and Andre in rotation.

Chris Dempsey arrived at The Denver Post in Dec. 2003 after seven years at the Boulder Daily Camera, where he primarily covered the University of Colorado football and men's basketball teams. A University of Colorado-Boulder alumnus, Dempsey covers the Nuggets and also chips in on college sports.